Title

Author(s)

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

10th Grade

Presentation Topic

Microbiology

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

1st Place

Written Paper Award

1st Place

Abstract

Streptococcus mutans is a gram positive, anaerobic bacteria that lives in the deep crevices of the mouth. It metabolizes sugar to form polysaccharides and lactic acids. These substances help with calcium degradation of the teeth.The purpose of this project was to test the sugar that causes the least amount of calcium degradation of the teeth. It was hypothesized that if different kinds of sugars were incubated with Streptococcus mutans and human teeth, then xylitol would cause the least amount of calcium degradation of the teeth and have the highest pH value. This was tested by randomly placing 60 human teeth into 60 different test tubes filled with a specific solution containing Streptococcus mutans, Todd-Hewitt Broth, and a specific type of sugar. The teeth were then checked for calcium degradation every 24 hours for 96 hours. The final mass change was found by subtracting the mass after being subjected to treatment from the mass before. The pH of each solution was found and recorded each day. An ANOVA test was run for the change in mass. It was found that the change in mass was not significant between each sugar, F(3, 48)=0.89, p>0.05. An ANOVA showed that the pH was statistically different in glucose compared to others, F(3, 48)=516.34, p<0.001. Post hoc analyses were performed using the Scheffé test to identify where significant differences between the sugars exist. The analyses indicated that the pH for glucose differed significantly from the other sugars. No other differences were found. Based on all the data statistical analyses, it was concluded that xylitol was the sugar that would best help prevent dental caries.

Recommended Citation

Rao, Priyanka, "The effect of various kinds of sugars on the calcium degradation of the tooth enamel caused by Streptococcus mutans in Dental Caries" (2015). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 269.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2015/all/269

Start Date

4-11-2015 11:45 AM

End Date

4-11-2015 12:00 PM

COinS

Apr 11th, 11:45 AMApr 11th, 12:00 PM

The effect of various kinds of sugars on the calcium degradation of the tooth enamel caused by Streptococcus mutans in Dental Caries

Streptococcus mutans is a gram positive, anaerobic bacteria that lives in the deep crevices of the mouth. It metabolizes sugar to form polysaccharides and lactic acids. These substances help with calcium degradation of the teeth.The purpose of this project was to test the sugar that causes the least amount of calcium degradation of the teeth. It was hypothesized that if different kinds of sugars were incubated with Streptococcus mutans and human teeth, then xylitol would cause the least amount of calcium degradation of the teeth and have the highest pH value. This was tested by randomly placing 60 human teeth into 60 different test tubes filled with a specific solution containing Streptococcus mutans, Todd-Hewitt Broth, and a specific type of sugar. The teeth were then checked for calcium degradation every 24 hours for 96 hours. The final mass change was found by subtracting the mass after being subjected to treatment from the mass before. The pH of each solution was found and recorded each day. An ANOVA test was run for the change in mass. It was found that the change in mass was not significant between each sugar, F(3, 48)=0.89, p>0.05. An ANOVA showed that the pH was statistically different in glucose compared to others, F(3, 48)=516.34, p<0.001. Post hoc analyses were performed using the Scheffé test to identify where significant differences between the sugars exist. The analyses indicated that the pH for glucose differed significantly from the other sugars. No other differences were found. Based on all the data statistical analyses, it was concluded that xylitol was the sugar that would best help prevent dental caries.